Northeast Coast campaign (1723)

The Northeast Coast Campaign (1723), also known as Dummer's War, was a series of conflicts between New England colonists and the Wabanaki Confederacy, primarily the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Penobscot tribes, along the northeastern frontier of present-day Maine and parts of New Brunswick. It was largely triggered by increasing encroachment by colonists onto Wabanaki lands and the construction of British forts, perceived as a threat to Wabanaki sovereignty and way of life.

The campaign involved raids and skirmishes on both sides. Colonial settlements were attacked, leading to casualties and property damage. The Wabanaki sought to disrupt colonial expansion and assert their territorial claims. Colonial forces, led by Lieutenant Governor William Dummer of Massachusetts (which then included Maine), responded with military expeditions and the establishment of additional fortified posts.

Key events included attacks on settlements such as Arrowsic and Merrymeeting Bay. The conflict was marked by its brutality, with both sides engaging in scalp bounties and other forms of violence.

The campaign concluded with a series of peace treaties, including Dummer's Treaty of 1725-1727. While these treaties nominally reaffirmed British sovereignty, they also contained provisions intended to protect Wabanaki hunting and fishing rights. However, the underlying issues of land ownership and cultural conflict remained unresolved, contributing to future conflicts between the Wabanaki and New England colonists. The legacy of the 1723 campaign continued to shape relations between these groups for decades to come.